Man charged in southwest Mississippi dogfighting operation

NATCHEZ, Miss. - A Mississippi man is facing charges after authorities said they found a dogfighting operation on land he owns.

Tommie Queen is charged with aggravated animal cruelty and possession of a stolen vehicle. Maj. Jerry Brown of the Adams County Sheriff's Department said Queen turned himself in Wednesday and was being held in the county jail.

Bond was not immediately set, and Brown said he did not know whether Queen is represented by an attorney.

Brown said veterinarians had to euthanize nine of the 49 dogs found on land belonging to Queen. Some of the dogs were mutilated, malnourished and chained to trees.

The discovery in Adams County came days after four men were arrested and 32 dogs were seized from a dogfighting operation in central Mississippi's Madison County.